Display device



H. F. STOFF EL DISPLAY DEVICE Nov. 20, 1962 Filed June 5, 1959 INVENTOR H.F. STDFFEL BY Oef/meejmr ATTORNEY States 3,664,8@4 Patented Nov. 20, 1962 3,064,8{34 DiPLAY DEVEQE Hans F. Stoffel, Scar-sdaie, NX. (68 Main St., Tuckahoe, NZ.) Filed June 3, 1959, Ser. No. 817,838 5 Claims. (Cl. 20o-86) This invention relates to the marketing and display of various commodities and more particularly to those, which because of their relatively small size, require additional precautions against theft and are preferably associated with advertising and display of a nature to attract attention and promote the sale thereof.

In connection with the display for sale of small items such as ball and other pens, pencils and the like, there is frequently a desire on the part of customers to test the item before purchase. However, handling of small individual items has led to a substantial amount of theft thereof. Attempts have been made to combat the problern by the use of visual display cards of relatively large size to which the items are attached. Such attachment has sometimes consisted of a transparent material entirely covering the item, or of a mounting portion on the card which engages the item and from which it may be removed. The former attachment device undesirably prevents testing of the item before sale, without tearing the covering material, and the latter may prevent testing or permit complete detachment of the item from the card, depending on the specific mounting arrangement, with the attendant possibility of theft.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display package or device for relatively small items, such as pens and pencils, which permits the customer to test the operation of the item without completely detaching the same therefrom.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a display device for a small item, such as a pen or pencil, in which the item is connected by tamper-proof sealing means which permit testing of the item, but which requires tearing or cutting of the item for complete separation and in which the sealing means enhances the display.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary perspective illustrating the partial separation of the item from the display card for testing purposes; and

FIGS. 3 and 4, sections on the lines 3-3 Aand 4 4, respectively, of FG. l.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides for the display of a relatively small item by mounting the same on a card for advertising or the like in such a way that the item may be easily moved from its mounted position, and securing the item by a line attached to the card and the item and having the ends of such line sealed and so connected or arranged that the item may be dismounted and partially separated to permit the testing thereof.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is illustrated a display package or device which includes a card on which an item such as a ball pen 1l is mounted. 'Ihe card has a front 12 and a back 13 with upper and lower fold portions 14 and 15 spaced apart to form an opening 16 produced by the slitting and inward folding of the central portion 17 to provide a pocket 18 contiguous to the opening 16. The sides 12 and 13 are preferably connected by suitable means such as an adhesive or stapling.

The ball pen 11 is provided with a spring clip 20 of conventional character having one end secured to the barrel 21 and the free end provided with a depending knob 22 for detachably mounting the same. In accordance with the present invention the portion of the clip which is anchored or mounted on the barrel has an opening 23 through which a line 24 passes; such line is attached to the card 1i) by passing through an opening 25 in the front and back thereof and has its end connected by a seal 26.

While various materials may be employed for the line 24, an elasticized cord is preferred, as this assists in holding the item in mounted relationship on the card, but permits sufficient separation of the upper portion to facilitate testing as indicated in FIG. 2. In its mounted position the item is received in the opening 16 and pocket 18 and its lower tip 28 is received in the space between the front and back portions of the card formed at the lower edge of opening 16.

The display card may contain various advertising and sales information adapted to attract and inform the trade. A prospective customer may easily ydismount the pen by lifting the tip 28 from the opening and the item out of the porcket 18. He may then test the pen and easily replace it in its original mounted position. The attaching line permits sufficient separation and manipulation of the upper portion of the pen for testing purposes, but prevents surreptitious removal of the pen from the display card. The seal 26 may contain an indication of value or quality or other information and enhances the attractiveness of the display.

While the invention has been described in connection with its application for the display of a writing instrument, it obviously may be employed for other items adapted to be mounted and attached to various display media.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the described embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the text, but only as illustrated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A display package for a writing instrument, comprising a writing instrument having a clip with an aperture in its mounting portion, a sheet of relatively stiff material having a lengthwise dimension exceeding that of the instrument and a Width substantially greater than the ength of the instrument, such material being folded upon itself to form front and back portions, a slit traversing said folded edge adjacent each end thereof and defining an intermediate edge portion, said edge portion being folded inwardly to provide an outwardly opening pocket having a length substantially that of the writing instrument, said pocket receiving said writing instrument, the ends of the pocket opening into said fold adjacent the ends of the instrument, an aperture in the sheet, a loop of elasticized cord passing through the aperture in the clip of the instrument and theaperture in the sheet, and a seal permanently securing the ends of cord.

2. A display package for a writing instrument, comprising a writing instrument and sheet means of substantially greater length and width than said instrument, said sheet means having a folded edge and a pocket folded inwardly at said edge for the partial lateral reception of said instrument, slits traversing said folded edge and deiining the ends of said inwardly folded pocket, said sheet means having an aperture adjacent to said pocket, said instrument having an aperture adapted to receive a strand, and an elasticized strand passing through the apertures in the sheet means and the instrument and having its ends afxed.

3. A display package including a card and a writing instrument, said card having substantially greater length and width than said instrument and having a portion of one edge folded inwardly forming a pocket to receive said instrument, said instrument being mounted in said inwardly folded portion, the ends of said inwardly folded portion ,being defined by slits traversing said folded edge, an elasticized cord, said card engaging said cord, said instrument having means engaging said cord, and a Seal connecting the ends of said cord.

4. A card for displaying an elongated relatively small tem having engageable means, comprising a sheet of relatively stii material of a length exceeding that of the item and of a width substantially greater than that of the item, such material being folded upon itself to form front and back portions, said portions being secured to each other in face contacting relation forming a combined article receiving and display card, said folded edge having a slit adjacent each end thereof, and that portion only between said slits being tucked inwardly to provide an outwardly opening pocket with its ends opening into the fold, said card having an aperture therein adjacent to and intermediate the ends of said pocket, and a loop of elasticized cord for traversing said pocket and adapted to conine an item in said pocket.

5. The combination of a display device and a writing instrument, said display device having substantially greater length and Width than said instrument and having a portion adapted for the reception therein of the instrument, an instrument mounted in said portion, a clip attached to said instrument and having an opening in the mounting portion thereof, said display device having an aperture, an elasticized cord passing through said opening in said clip and said aperture in said display and attaching said instrument to said display, and a Seal connecting the -ends of said cord.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 431,763 Brooks July '8, 1890l 693,050 Murdock Feb. ll, 1902 2,067,386 Frowenfeld Ian. y1'2, 1937 2,727,620 Buttery Dec; 20, 19755 Y 2,809,863 Curran Oct. 15,1957 2,931,495 Stratton Apr. 5, 1960 Y 

